The BlackBerry Priv features a 5.4-inch dual curved screen with a 1440 x 2560 QHD resolution. The Snapdragon 808 SoC is under the hood with a hexa-core CPU and the Adreno 418 GPU. 3GB of RAM is inside, with 32GB of expandable, native storage. The rear-facing camera is an 18MP Schneider-Kreuznach snapper with OIS, and there is a 2MP front-facing camera that shoots selfies and handles video chats.

Did BlackBerry miss out on a chance to do some big time promoting by failing to hold a media event for the phone? Or has BlackBerry come to the conclusion that consumers wouldn't be interested in the Priv. If so, the company might have made a terrible mistake. Where has BlackBerry been the last three months? Ever since images of the Venice (and then the Priv) started surfacing, there has been plenty of attention from Android users who had previously said that they would never buy a BlackBerry phone.

"BlackBerry is the most trusted maker of secure hardware and software in the world today. World leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, German Prime Minister Angela Merkel, leading government agencies, and the biggest businesses all depend on us.

I committed that we would release an Android phone only if we could make it, like everything else we produce: secure. We have – and so today is that day.

I'm proud to announce the world's first BlackBerry smartphone powered by Android, PRIV, is available for pre-order today.

PRIV will be the solution for smartphone users who are learning daily of the lack of privacy they have on their current devices. PRIV will be the answer for former BlackBerry users who miss the physical keyboard but want more apps. And we're responding to current – and prospective – BlackBerry users who need it all: choice, innovation, security, privacy and productivity."-John Chen, CEO, BlackBerry

This is not the BlackBerry Storm. Unless BlackBerry has a reason for wanting the Priv to fail, the device should be given every chance to succeed. And that means holding a media event, advertising it, and letting the world know that BlackBerry has this unique Android handset that might have all of the features that people are looking for in a smartphone.

posted on Oct 25, 2015, 12:10 AM 2

posted on Oct 24, 2015, 7:29 PM 0

Posts: 22000; Member since: May 28, 2014

Dude, there's no way you can come back from that. Just take the "L" and go sit in the corner quietly. Lol.
I'm not going to make this another "3 day epic" like we usually have. You're done. And any attempt you make at a comeback after this will only serve to amplify this fact. It's just going to make you look desperate for my attention. It is the weekend, after all. Since you already know the drill, I'm not going to repeat it. But I know you, you're gonna prove me right, as usual.

Posts: 22000; Member since: May 28, 2014

posted on Oct 24, 2015, 7:23 AM 1

Posts: 78; Member since: Nov 09, 2012

I did pre-order mine and i think the price is fair regarding the competition ( sam., HTC, LG& Apple ) even lamias ( without a proper ecosystem) are pricy right now !!!
Its not a chineese handset to be priced lower than 700$ !!

posted on Oct 24, 2015, 7:23 AM 1

Posts: 42; Member since: Oct 14, 2015

Well since I'm Telus ND can't pre-order which I guess is really no biggy....i will just get it on the 6th.
All on all as a previous post stated this phone offers a lot of stuff in a beautiful design. Once people see this phone and realize it's potential they will buy it. The problem too Is when you go into a store( and I speak for only the community I live in) that the sales reps don't really focus on the blackberry and instead they go to the iPhone and such. It is the carriers satellite outlets too that need to help people out in regards to different phones and not dismiss a particular brand based on their preferences. Sales people need to have an equal opinion on all platforms and not " oh it's a blackberry, you don't want that). I have heard this. Anyways my two and a half cents ( considering we don't have pennies anymore) lol

Posts: 22000; Member since: May 28, 2014

posted on Oct 24, 2015, 8:16 AM 1

Posts: 2361; Member since: Aug 01, 2015

Not to stereotype but there are a lot of immature sales staff working in cell shops. They tend to brag and promote their preference instead of seeing what your true needs are. One salesperson is for iPhone, and in another shop they're totally in love with LG. Sadly I've never heard one promote the positives of BB10 or Windows. +1 Monsterhunter.

Posts: 1004; Member since: Jul 27, 2014

posted on Oct 24, 2015, 2:02 PM 1

Posts: 1; Member since: Aug 22, 2015

Where is the marketing and advertising for the BlackBerry Priv? Is BlackBerry still sleeping with regard to promoting their new product to the public.
To me it looks like they want the BlackBerry Priv to fail. By this failure to have a reason to close down the HW division at the company and sell 00the business to Foxconn.

posted on Oct 24, 2015, 3:42 PM 1

Posts: 52; Member since: Dec 06, 2011

There is no need to advertise yet. If they started advertising now and people saw it on TV they would rush to the store to get it and its not there yet. So they may would buy something else. There will be advertising when the stores have it.

posted on Oct 26, 2015, 8:47 AM 1

Posts: 182; Member since: May 09, 2013

I'm all for value! If not many buy this due to the price, it was too high. If they would've priced it $50-$100 cheaper, would there still be people complaining about the price? Yep! And that the specs are not worth it or that BB is grasping at straws. Would it be the same posters that we have stating it's priced too high, now? Probably! So, do the polite thing. If you have nothing nice to say, keep it to yourself. BlackBerry fans have the right to enjoy the new release without having people rain on the parade. Opinions are like a$$holes, we all have one... it's just some of us are polite enough to keep them covered up when we go in public.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers at https://www.parsintl.com/phonearena or use the Reprints & Permissions tool that appears at the bottom of each web page. Visit https://www.parsintl.com/ for samples and additional information.